Q&A with SDSU baseball assistant Chuck Sendelbach

Forty years after playing for the South Dakota State baseball program, Chuck Sendelbach is back with the Jackrabbits as a volunteer assistant. He hopes this weekend to complete a double play, of sorts – winning a conference crown as a coach to go along with the one he earned as a player.

SDSU (27-27) carries the No. 1 seed and the title of defending champion into the four-team Summit League tournament that begins Thursday at Sioux Falls Stadium.

A South Dakota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame member, Sendelbach reflected on reconnecting to the Jacks program – a point of emphasis for head coach Dave Schrage – and the differences in eras on sports reporter Terry Vandrovec’s podcast at argusleader.com.

Here’s an excerpt:

Question: What’s it been like to be around the SDSU program on a daily basis after being away for so long?

Answer: I have continued to stay involved in amateur baseball after my playing era ended at SDSU in the early 1970s. The love of the game has never left me; I’ve not really ever gotten it out of my blood and ever gotten rid of it. ... It’s kind of living the dream all over again and reconnecting with the SDSU baseball program, something that was very near and dear to me back in my playing career.

Q: The Jacks have had solid success in their first decade at the NCAA Division I level, including a national tournament bid and moving two pitchers into the majors in the last year. What, if anything, has that done in terms of bridging the gap between former players and the current team?

A: When they found out we ended up getting the No. 1 seed and the tournament being in Sioux Falls and the likelihood that we’ll get to host again in Brookings or Sioux Falls next year – I’ve had phone calls, I’ve had texts from former teammates and former SDSU baseball alumni saying ‘Good luck, we’re happy for you.’

I hope that more people are sitting up and paying attention. When last year’s team received their conference championship rings at a basketball game at the very end of January, our (1973) team and, of course, the 1984 team ... were introduced. Those guys still have a passion for the program.

I’m hoping the connection exists and we can build on it. Obviously, fundraising is one area where that’s needed.

Q: The four teams in this tourney were separated by one game in the regular-season standings. Are they truly that even?

A: I was totally surprised at how much parity existed between the four teams that are in this tournament. It’s unbelievably close on all the offensive and defensive and pitching aspects of it.

Some run a little more, some teams run a little bit less – they have their own idiosyncrasies, but it’s absolutely astounding how close all of these teams are.

From our point of view, it’s really, really important for us because we want to go on (to the NCAA tournament). But I think we need to win this tournament to validate what was done in 2013.